A/N: Hi ya'll. As mentioned before, this is a companion to Perfectflyer's Valkyrie, check it out if you enjoy this story.
I'm happy to have some fun with my OCs for once; although, Perfectflyer does a great job with them in her story.
So proud to say that I finally legitimately own the cover image for this story.
Thanks for reading. :D
"Rhodri," Linada's voice broke into his reverie, "She wishes to see you." Linada stood before him, arms crossed, face resolute.
"How illogical," Rhodri muttered, flipping to the next page in the Machina history book. He began to read again and attempted to ignore Linada's presence.
"Not entirely; she wants to thank you." Linada leaned down and covered the book with her hand. He rolled his eyes and glanced up at the earnest medic.
"I require no positive affirmation for my action. She owes me nothing." He scowled. Linada left out a puff of exasperation.
"I don't care what you want," She planted her hands firmly on her hips; "My patient wants to see you and will not rest until she does. She is a stubborn one… That's something you two have in common."
"Is this flattery meant to alter my decision?" Rhodri replied coldly. Linada sighed, and with sagging shoulders, resorted to begging.
"Please just stop in for moment so she can finally calm down and begin to heal. You've seen her wounds. That infection won't be easy to beat." Linada pleaded and a pregnant silence followed. Rhodri snapped the book shut; Linada jumped slightly at the sound.
"She is impairing her recovery, then?" Rhodri asked, turning his yellow eyes onto the medic.
"Oh, uh, yes!" Linada nodded. He scooped the book off the table and stood with a flourish.
"Take me to her, before I change my mind." Linada nodded happily and led Rhodri out of the room. They arrived shortly to Linada's medical facilities. Linada had been occupied with a wash of patients due to the war between the Mechon and the inhabitants of the Bionis. Rhodri could not have cared less about the outcome to the war, but the prospect of history being made did thrilled him.
"Here we are." Linada opened the door to a private room and ushered him inside. The Homs girls sat in her bed, almost enveloped by pillows and the wires and tubes hooked to the Machina machines around her. She looked up as they entered. Her eyes glimmered as she smiled at us.
"Linada, he did come! And you said he wouldn't. You were so worried." The girl laughed. A flash of pain went across her face, bringing her laughter to a halt. Her right arm gingerly wrapped around her left side, which was entirely obscured by bandages.
"Don't strain yourself." Linada went to her side and administered more pain medication. Rhodri inspected the girl form affair, finally able to see her features clearly without a coating of blood. Her skin was pale and ghostly, but her skin appeared to have a natural tawny hue. The fringes of her wounds were still an unnatural purple from the poisonous water. Her deep ultramarine eyes stood out in contrast against her white face, making her eyes seem deep and dark. Coppery brown hair tumbled down past her shoulder, shining with undertones of red and gold.
"There you are. Now, please try to relax." Linada finished tinkering with the machines around the girl.
"Will do, Linada." The girl said with an impish smile. Linada left the room, politely shutting the door behind her. With a flick of her wrist, her copper hair was tucked behind her ear. In Linada's absence, the room had grown quiet. The girl seemed content to leer at Rhodri. Growing frustrated, he crossed his arms and spoke.
"Linada says you wish to thank me." Rhodri broke the silence. The girl jumped a little bit at his sudden vocalization and smiled sheepishly.
"Oh yes! I did. I'm sorry I got a little distracted; you're very beautiful. I'm fascinated that each of the Machina are all so unique." Rhodri furrowed his brows. She was trying to be charming. All the Homs were the same; they would charm you to get what they wanted.
"Come here so we can be formally introduced." She beckoned him towards her bed, holding out her right hand. Rhodri approached hesitantly, already growing weary of her annoying energy. Rhodri took her hand, completely obscuring her small hand in his.
"I'm Eleanor, it's a real pleasure to meet you" Eleanor smiled brightly. It appeared that a smile never left this Homs' face.
"Rhodri." He replied blandly, eager to leave.
"Thank you for saving me, Rhodri." Eleanor added. Something in her voice drew his golden eyes to her navy eyes. Her gaze was earnest and sincere.
"My virtues dictated my actions. You are in no way in my debt." Rhodri dropped her hand and pulled away from her gaze.
"You're succinct, aren't you?" Eleanor could not help smiling at her witticism. Rhodri's face did not change from his default scowl. Rhodri muttered a goodbye. He had almost escaped, when Eleanor called out to him.
"Will you stop by again?" Eleanor asked.
"That is highly improbable." Rhodri glanced back long enough to see the nonplussed look on her face before he sauntered away.
Linada entered soon after Rhodri left.
"You look surprised. I warned you that he was not one of those knights-in-shining-armor that pervade Homs storybooks." Linada fluffed a few pillows behind Eleanor. The girl did not seem to notice, her gaze was far off.
"Now that's over, you can relax." Linada noticed the she was not listening at all, "Is something wrong?" She inspected her patient carefully. Eleanor shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. It's just… He looked so sad." Eleanor mused. Linada shook her head, a wry smile on her lips.
"He's not the kind to be sad. He thinks emotions are beneath him."
"It's not that easy to ignore them, you know," Eleanor looked toward the bright windows, a small frown on her lips "It wasn't an outward emotion; I could see it in his eyes."
"Ah well, than he hides his humanity well." Linada replied.